Festivity and fear

Festivity and fear now live together in our country. As we mark Eidul Azha, security concerns have emerged once more, with the Islamabad Police on top alert. Similar measures have also, most certainly, been put in place in other cities given past incidents on Eid and other occasions. Naturally, we should be thinking, very seriously, about how to eliminate this fear. It is simply not acceptable that thoughts of attack should mar one of the most holy of days on the Islamic calendar.



As we mark this Eidul Azha, with traditional sacrifice and celebration, we should also be considering what it means to the majority of people in our country. Today, a far greater number than usual will eat well, with meat appearing on tables where it is usually never seen. But one day in the year is not enough. We must also remember that in a time of high unemployment and inflation, there are many who go hungry day after day, surviving at subsistence levels. The latest National Nutritional Survey reflects this and also shows women and children are the worst victims of hunger. We should consider this reality and make a concerted effort towards change. We should also consider if, like so many other occasions, Eidul Azha has become a time for ostentatious display rather than humble sacrifice in some circles and how we can regain the true spirit of the festival. We must not, at this time, forget the majority that struggles with poverty and deprivation, day after day.

Indeed, we mark this Eid at a time when many challenges confront us. Of course, the occasion will be a time for families to come together, for friends to meet and for outings to be planned. But we need also to think about how our country as a whole can be united, so that the frictions which so badly damage us can be eased and we can mark future festivals with a little less concern about terrorist threats or the other dangers that have come to live among us, with no end in sight right at the moment. This is a state of affairs that needs to change. And we can make this occasion all the more meaningful by making this day one on which that change for the better can begin.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2013.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.